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Tuesday, April 30, 2013

The Bout of Books read-a-thon is organized by Amanda @ On a Book Bender and Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal. It is a week long read-a-thon that begins 12:01am Monday, May 13th and runs through Sunday, May 19th in whatever time zone you are in. Bout of Books is low-pressure, and the only reading competition is between you and your usual number of books read in a week. There are challenges, giveaways, and a grand prize, but all of these are completely optional. For all Bout of Books 7.0 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog. - From the Bout of Books team

I am super excited to join in on the Bout of Books read-a-thon. I normally read 2-3 books per week so I would like to double that number and go for 4-6 books that week. I have 10-15 unread books on my kindle and I know I will be adding more in May so this will be a good chance for me to make a little dent in that.

Ashton Garrison walked away from a privileged life in order to hide from the one thing she's not willing to face. She knows she left behind a trail of pain, but in the long run, her betrayal will hurt less than the truth. She now has one goal: Live life to the fullest with no regrets and no attachments. She has high hopes that a move to new surroundings will provide the escape she desires, but what Ashton doesn't count on is how fate always seems to find a way to screw up any good plan. Sometimes, when love comes knocking, the pull is too strong not to answer. Suddenly, what she thought she wanted to escape from is what Ashton now wants more than anything.

Nathan Lockton has one mission: find his target and complete the task he was hired to do—no attachments and no emotion necessary. He's done it over and over again. What he thought was a typical lost-and-found job has turned into a life examining moment as Nathan is forced to deal with something he has always ignored--his feelings. Now faced with a decision, Nathan must choose to either follow his heart or complete the job.

Love can come when you least expect it. The question is: If the odds are stacked against you, how far are you willing to go for the one you love?

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No Attachments was a beautiful story about two people who weren't looking for love but somehow found it. They each had their reasons for wanting a no attachment arrangement but they definitely got more than they bargained for.

I really liked Ashton as a female lead character. She had gone through so many trials and tribulations in her young life but she was determined not to let them overcome her. She decided to take life into her hands and make the most out of it. Nathan is a scorned man and I loved his charm and his witty sexual innuendos. He has no desire for a relationship but he is instantly intrigued by Ashton. I loved the interaction between them and how they could go blow for blow with their sexual banter. Ashton's friend, Trish, is a riot and I loved every word that came out of her mouth. She is super supportive of Ashton and a really good friend. I also loved Fran, Ashton's boss. She was the only person that knew why Ashton was really there and she was protective of her like a mother.

I really enjoyed the plot of this book. I loved the idea of two people who weren't looking for anything but a no strings attached sexual relationship but ended up finding love. It was obvious from the beginning why Ashton had run off and why Nathan was there. I found it refreshing that their was no underlying mystery and it was all about the connection building between Nathan and Ashton. It was so endearing when Nathan wouldn't give up on Ashton when she pushed him away. I loved the dual POV with Ashton and Nathan. I really like it when I get to see inside both minds. A male POV from a female author has to be done just right and the author really nailed it. It was a touching love story and I loved the epilogue. I think Tiffany King has made a great transition into adult romance writing and proven that she is a versatile writer.

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Favorite Quote:

"Ordinarily, I would have scoffed at a man running without a shirt on, wondering what he was trying to prove. Nathan, though, was a different story with his glistening pecks and rock-hard abs. It would have been sinful to deprive the female population the opportunity to gawk." ~Ashton (No Attachments by Tiffany King)

IPOD Picks:

"Catch My Breath" by Kelly Clarkson

"You Make it Real" by James Morrison

"Chasing the Light" by Matt Kearney

Author Bio:

Tiffany King is the author of The Saving Angels Series, Wishing for Someday Soon, Forever Changed, Unlikely Allies, Miss Me Not and Jordyn: A Daemon Hunter Novel book one. Writer by day and book fanatic the rest of the time, she is now pursuing her life-long dream of weaving tales for others to enjoy.

She has a loving husband and two wonderful kids. (Five, if you count her three spoiled cats). Her addictions include: Her iphone and ipad, chocolate, Diet Coke, chocolate, Harry Potter, chocolate, and her favorite TV shows. Want to know what they are? Just ask.

Maggie never thought she’d see Clay again. So, she attempts to put her life back together after her heart has been shattered to pieces. Moving on and moving forward, just as Clay wanted her to.

Clay never stopped thinking of Maggie. Even after ripping their lives apart and leaving her behind to get the help he so desperately needed. He is healing...slowly. But his heart still belongs to the girl who tried to save him.

When a sudden tragedy brings Maggie and Clay face to face again, nothing is the same. Yet some things never change. Can the darkness that threatened to consume them be transformed into something else and finally give them what they always wanted? And can two people who fought so hard to be together, finally find their happiness? Or will their demons and fear drive them apart for good?

The thing about love, is even when it destroys you, it has a way of mending what is broken. And in the shadows, you can still see the light.***************************

This was a fantastic conclusion to Maggie and Clay's story. I was so sad and torn up inside after the end of Find You in the Darkness that I had to immediately start this book to know how it all ended.

This book was written in dual POV from both Maggie and Clay and I really liked that. It was nice to get inside Clay's head and understand how he feels and what he is going through. I like him even more in this book because I was able to understand him more and the inner turmoil that plagued him. I loved that the author didn't make Clay magically better. Despite all of his hard work to get better, he still struggled every day to overcome the obstacles of his breakdown. Maggie still loved Clay and knew that her feelings would never change but I loved that she learned from her mistakes and made better choices with Clay this time. She didn't allow him or his problems to consume her and she knew that she would never be able to be his only medicine or help him on her own.

The author did an amazing job of keeping the story so real. There was no magical solution or fairy tale ending. While the ending was very satisfying, they didn't ride off into the sunset happily ever after. Their love and relationship was an everyday battle and always would be. This was a story of struggle, triumph and everlasting love. I will definitely be picking up another A. Meredith Walters novel soon.

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Favorite Quote:

"I think the person who said it's better to have love and lost than to never have loved at all was full of shit. This much pain wasn't good for anyone, no matter that it came from something as amazing as the love for another person." ~ Maggie (Light in the Shadows by A. Meredith Walters)

Sunday, April 28, 2013

Maggie Young had the market on normal. Normal friends, normal parents, normal grades...normal life. Until him.Clayton Reed was running from his past and an army of personal demons that threatened to take him down. He never thought he had a chance at happiness.Until her.Maggie thought their love could overcome anything. Clay thought she was all he needed to fix his messy life. That together, they could face the world.But the darkness is always waiting. Sometimes the greatest obstacle to true love is within yourself.

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This book was utterly amazing and I was captivated from the prologue. This was a beautiful and heart wrenching story and I found myself on the verge of tears a time or two. The characters were so fantastically written and I felt all of their emotions. Clay and Maggie have such a tumultuous relationship and you can see how dangerously beautiful it is from the beginning.

Maggie is an incredible, strong young woman and she is immediately enamored with Clayton. There is something about him that pulls her in and blinds her to his inner demons. The deeper she gets, the more she feels the need to fix him. I found her love for Clay despite everything he put her through so endearing but very dangerous. I felt myself cringe a time or two when I knew that Clay was going to lose it and emotionally damage her a little more. Even though Clay was volatile and unpredictable with his moods, I still loved him because he was fighting these inner demons and he truly loved Maggie with his whole heart. He had serious problems and thought that Maggie was all he needed to fix them but really he needed more help than she could give him. I also really like Maggie's best friends, Rachel and Daniel. They were amazing friends who supported Maggie and helped hold her together when she needed them the most.

This book was so well written and the characters were so real. Maggie and Clay are so in love but so young and don't really know how to handle a serious, mature relationship. On top of that Clay has serious issues and Maggie is a bit delusional when it comes to helping him. The author really pulled on my emotions and I could feel the hurt and determination in Maggie every time Clay pulled away. I could feel the raw emotion from Clay every time he struggled to control his inner demons. The ending was so heart breaking and emotional. I was glad that I read this book after the second one had been released because I desperately needed to know how this was all going to play out.

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Favorite Quote:

"I knew this was bad for me. I knew that perhaps my parents had been right. But I needed Clay as much as he needed me. We existed in this symbolic relationship where our hearts beat and our lungs breathed only for each other." ~Maggie (Find You in the Dark by A. Meredith Walters)

I finally broke down and created a Facebook page for my blog. I don't know what I am thinking and how I will ever manage a blog, a Facebook page and a Twitter account but I will do it! If you feel inclined, I would love for you to click on the button below and hop on over and give my page a LIKE.

I picked up Cinder for my kindle when it was on sale with Amazon. I have heard a lot of good things about it. I wasn't sure about it when I read the synopsis but I have heard a lot of positive things so I decided to give it a shot. I will let you know what I thought later this week.

Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth’s fate hinges on one girl. . . .

Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She’s a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai’s, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world’s future.

Saturday, April 27, 2013

Sky meets Dean Holder, a guy with a reputation that rivals her own. Holder has the ability to invoke feelings in Sky she's never had before. In just one encounter he leaves her terrified yet captivated and something about him brings up a rush of memories from the past that she’s worked so hard to bury away.

Sky knows Holder is nothing but trouble and tries to keep him at a distance, but he is adamant about learning everything he can about her. Sky finally caves to his unwavering pursuit, but she soon finds out that Holder isn't the person he's been claiming to be. When the secrets he's been keeping are finally revealed, every single facet of Sky's life changes forever.

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I was hooked on Hopeless the minute I started reading it. I immediately felt for Sky and knew that my heart would break for her at some point in this book. I literally couldn't put this book down and stayed up too late trying to finish reading this book. I wouldn't be able to sleep until I knew how this ended.

Sky is so broken and she doesn't even know it until she meets Holder. I loved her character and the way that she handled Holder. She didn't care what anyone thought about her and she held so much self confidence, despite all she had been through. Holder was so kind and compassionate. He knew who Sky was before she even knew herself and all he wanted to do was help her heal. He made me crazy at first with how hot and cold he was with Sky but as the story developed, I understood him more and why he was that way. I absolutely loved the interaction between Sky and Holder. You could feel the chemistry between them rolling off the pages. From the moment she met him, she knew he was different and he invoked feelings in her that no one else ever had.

The plot was so heartwarming and I was instantly enthralled with the story. I had insta-love with Colleen Hoover's writing and way she incorporated memories from Sky's past as she started remembering them was brilliant. There were so many unexpected twists within the story line and I found myself gasping more than once when surprises that I never could have guessed were revealed. This book was never predictable and every time I was sure I knew where the story was going, I somehow found myself surprised. I am definitely a fan of Colleen Hoover and I can't wait to read more from her.

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Favorite Quote:

"Our lips are finally intertwining for the first time, or the twentieth time, or the millionth time. It doesn't really matter because whichever time this is-- it's absolutely perfect. It's incredible and flawless and almost worth everything we've been through in order to get to this moment." ~Sky (Hopeless by Colleen Hoover)

IPOD Picks:

"We Found Love" by Rihanna

"All We Are" by Matt Nathanson

"Mirrors" by Justin Timberlake

This book was provided to me by the publisher through NetGalley for an honest review. All opinions expressed in this review are my own, unbiased opinions.

To join in, just re-post the topic and link back to the host. Grab a cup of coffee, tea or hot chocolate and do a post on the topic.

This week's topic is:

A Series Spotlight and a Frappucino

Drink of the Week: Caramel Frappucino

This week, I enjoyed a caramel frappucino and it was fabulous. It is the perfect drink for a beautiful spring or summer day. I went with the light version, which means no whipped cream, because let's face it, I'm not a teenager anymore and calories do count.

Book Topic: Series Spotlight

The Celestra Series

by Addison Moore

I thought this would be a fabulous time to spotlight a series that I absolutely adore. The Celestra Series by Addison Moore is unlike any other paranormal series that I have ever read. Addison Moore is and incredible writer The Celestra Series is full of incredible imagery and details that make me feel like I am right there with the characters. I want to laugh, cry and murder Chloe right there with Skyla. There are 7 books out with the 8th and final book set to be released soon. The series flows so well from book to book that it doesn't even feel like you stopped one and started another. The covers of these book are so beautiful too. I have included the cover and synopsis for each book. Check it out and give Skyla a chance!

Sixteen-year-old, Skyla Messenger is a dead girl walking.

When her newly remarried mother moves the family to Paragon Island, to a house that is rumored to be haunted, Skyla finds refuge in Logan Oliver, a boy who shares her unique ability to read minds.

Skyla discovers Logan holds the answers to the questions she’s been looking for, but Logan’s reluctance to give her the knowledge she desires leaves her believing Logan has a few secrets of his own.

Skyla’s bloodlines may just be connected to the most powerful angelic beings that roam the earth, and the more she knows, the more danger she seems to be in.

Suddenly an entire faction of earthbound angels wants her dead, at least she still has Logan, or does she?

Sixteen year-old, Skyla Messenger is determined to bring back the dead.

For Skyla, being an angel from the coveted Celestra faction hasn't been easy.

An entire band of wicked angels is after her blood, a Sector is after something far more sinister, and her newfound powers lead her on a quest to save her dead father.

Skyla and her boyfriend Logan try to piece together a plan to take down the Countenance in order to maintain their relationship, but will Skyla's burgeoning feelings for Gage get in the way?

And when Skyla decides to use her powerful blood to change the fate of another deceased soul, just who is going to stop her?

Sixteen year-old, Skyla Messenger is having difficulties with the living and the dead.

With Chloe’s diary in her hands, Skyla embarks into the mind of one of Paragon’s most twisted former residents.

After accidentally kick-starting the faction war, Skyla finds herself in more danger than ever before. So, when Marshall offers her a taste of the gift of knowing, Skyla attempts to use it to alter the outcome of future prophesies.

And now that Skyla’s love life seems to involve one boy too many, she must choose who to be with. If she waits too long, the decision just might be made for her.

Seventeen year-old, Skyla Messenger is wishing people would just stay dead.

With Chloe back, Skyla finds it difficult to live under her tyranny and threats.

A seemingly innocent misstep in Skyla’s past comes back to haunt her and could end up costing her relationship with Gage.

Seventeen year-old, Skyla Messenger finds herself lying on an altar as a sacrifice to the enemy.

Being an angel of the highest Nephilim order hasn’t been easy. Her first love has cast his allegiance to the Countenance, the Sectors and the Fems see her as nothing more than a celestial pawn, and the dead girl she helped bring back to life has blackmailed her into relinquishing her boyfriend.

Skyla is determined to change all that. She's decided to never trust Logan again, to turn the tables on the Sectors and the Fems, and get dirt on Chloe to blackmail her into leaving Gage alone. But, when one obstacle after another gets in her way, Skyla can hardly find the strength to carry on. The only solution seems to be to sacrifice herself to the Sector in her life and put everything in order while losing everything she values most.

Seventeen year-old Skyla Messenger discovers love is stronger than death and deception. In an effort to rectify those horrible truths Skyla’s life changes forever.

Love and heartbreak become obstacles that overshadow the faction war and in the end may cost her everything.

Skyla Messenger’s days are numbered.

With an angelic Faction War riding on her shoulders, and her mother’s newfound need to cozy with the enemy, Skyla also has to deal with the fact someone close to her has openly deceived her.

Skyla learns that sometimes in life, and in love, things aren’t always what they seem.

Skyla Messenger’s days are drawing to an end.

Seventeen-year old Skyla has been taken by the Counts, is under the strict punishment of her mother in a war gifted in her honor, and is the only hope of the people captive in the tunnels. Everything that can go wrong has. For Skyla, life is panning out to be more of a curse than a blessing.

Relationships change.The war draws to an end.Death comes to Paragon.

Skyla must decide if she is brave enough to sacrifice everything in order to save her people.

I definitely recommend checking out this series for yourself!

Next week, I have decided to change it up a little and do a discussion topic. The topic will be discussing male versus female POV and a flavored latte.

Friday, April 26, 2013

When Chloe's mother comes back into her life with a bang, it sets off a chain of events no one could have ever expected. Everyone has their demons, and Chloe and Drake's hit them with a vengeance.

Sex, drugs, money, a crazy ex, and Rock n Roll.... Can they survive it all?

Things are beginning to feel a bit... Twisted.

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I was more satisfied with Twisted than I was with the first book, Torn. I wasn't sure if I would read this book after reading Torn but I couldn't not see how it all ended and I am glad I did read it because I was pleasantly surprised.

I did not like Chloe at all in Torn but I found her character very redeeming in this book and I found myself understanding her and liking her better after this book. While Chloe made a lot of bad decisions in the first book, Drake was the one to make poor choices in this book. I was disappointed in the way he made snap judgments and acted without thinking. Even with temptations and Drake's erratic behavior, Chloe's love for him never wavered and she was always faithful. This book was written dual POV from Chloe and Drake and I really enjoyed that.

Just like the first book, the plot of this book really jumped around but unlike Torn, it worked for this book. Between Chloe's crazy mother, Drake's downward spiral on tour and a couple of exes there was a lot going on but it was very entertaining and kept my attention. I had some issues with the writing in the first book but after reading Torn, I think it is just her style which is different than what I am used to. I grew on me in this book. Overall, I thought Twisted was a vast improvement from Torn and I was very satisfied with the ending. I am definitely willing to check out another book by this author.

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Favorite Quote:

"I pressed my lips to her and kissed her like I was dying, like it was the last kiss we would ever share, because it might just be our last. She might slap me when I let her go and never speak to me again. If she did, I wanted to remember the feel of her lips against mine for the rest of my life." ~ Drake (Twisted by K.A. Robinson)

Jaxon Michaels is every father's worst nightmare for his teenage daughter, but Clarice Gibson knows him better than anyone. Best friends since the sixth grade, Clare and Jax have walked the fine line of friendship for six years.

But when Clarice's friend Jessica starts dating Jax, Clare finds herself starting to notice him in a different way, one she's not entirely prepared to face. As their senior year approaches and her true feelings are unburied, Clare begins asking herself the one question she vowed never to think about: What if she's in love with her best friend? Their friendship is further strained when the captain of the football team - and Jessica's twin brother - sets his eyes on Clare. As loyalties and friendships are tested, Clare and Jax find it harder to keep themselves firmly planted on the friends side of the relationship line.

A line they are getting dangerously close to crossing.

AUTHOR BIO

I'm a Southern girl who's spent the last few years freezing my toosh off up north. Except for the snow, things are pretty good. I love sunshine, sweet tea, and romances that touch my heart. A lifelong romantic, I found my own prince charming at an online dating site. Six months later, he asked me to marry him. Picture Perfect is my debut novel.

About Me

I am a financial operations manager and a book obsessed blogger. Starbucks gets me through the day while books get me through the night. I love, love, love to read. I am a multi-tasker. I read when I cook, I read when I workout, I read when I paint my nails. I absolutely love music and love reading a book with music in the background or my ipod in my ears. My favorite candy is sour gummy worms and I love peanut butter. I often laugh out loud when I read something funny in a book. I have a 5 year old Alaskan Malamute and a 2 year old Golden Retriever. My favorite TV shows are Friends, Psych and I LOVE Duck Dynasty. I hate love triangles but always get wrapped up in them anyways.I mostly read and review new adult and young adult and adult contemporary novels. However, I do throw in a different genre once and a while to mix it up, usually being paranormal or dystopian. There is nothing better than drinking a latte, reading a book and listening to music. I decided to start this blog because I love to read and share my thoughts and ideas on all things book related. I also enjoy helping authors promote their books and spread the word. I hope to make new friends and inspire others to read some of my favorite books too.